Almon k



(No Model.) A. K. VIRGIL.

EXERGISING KEYBOARD FOR MUSICIANS.

No. 391,439. Patented Oct. 23, 1888.

twm. a 7;

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ALMON K. VIRGIL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXERCISING KEY-BOARD FOR MUSIClANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391A39, dated October 23, 1888.

Application filed January 27. 1888. Serial No. 262,188. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it'may concern.-

Beitknown that I, ALMoN K. ViReIL,a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Device for Characterizing the Touch of a Key-Board, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to simulate the touch of an exercising keyboard to that of a piano.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a cross-section through an ordinary exercising key-board, showing one of the keys with my improvement applied thereto.

a is the key, constructed and pivoted in all respects like a piano-key.

g is aspring,of any suitable construction, to bear down on the rear end of the key and tend to hold it in the position shown.

b is a cushion upon the rear end of the key.

(Z is a bracket connected with the frame of the instrument and located above the cushion h. A hole is bored vertically through this bracket, in which is loosely fitted the wire 6, having a nut, f, on its upper end,by which the wire is suspended. At the lower end of the wire is suspended a weight, preferably of the form shown, and preferably from one-half to three-quarters of an ounce in weight.

It will be observed that the weight is sus pended a short distance above the cushion Z). This distance should be such that the rear end of the key will strike the weight just before it has completed its upward stroke. It will also be observed that the weight is suspended slightly below the bracket. This is to allow for the weight to be carried upward by its momentum for a short distance upon being hitby the key, the loosely-fitting wire 6 forming no material obstacle to the ascent of the weight.

By the sudden stroke given to the weight by the flying up of the rear end of the key the weight is thrown a little higher than the key. As soon as the upward momentum of the weight is expended it drops back upon the cushion 1) before the rear end of the key has fallen. Thus the key receives two distinct shocks from the weight, one upon the stroke of the key against the weight and the other upon the back-stroke of the weight against the key, producing a vibratory sensation of touch like that produced in a piano by the slipping off of the jack as the hammer is thrown upon the string. The weight also gives a slight increase to the weight of touch similar to the check which produces the let off in the action of a grand piano. A cushion, 71, may be interposed between the top of the weight and the bracket and a cushion, 2', between the nutf and the bracket.

It will be understood that the devices above described will be duplicated for as many keys as there are in the key-board,the weights hanging in a row across the instrument over the cushions on the rear ends of the keys.

I claiml. The combination, in akey-board exercising apparatus, with a series of keys, of a series of weights having a substantially vertical play and arranged in position to be struck upon the depression of said keys, substantially as described, whereby the touch of said keys is made to simulate that of a piano.

2. The combination, with a key, of a weight maintained in position to be struck upon the depression of the key,said weight being freeto be carried by its momentum when struck out of contact with the key and to return upon the same, thereby affecting the touch of the key, substantially as described.

ALMON K. VIRGIL.

Witnesses:

D. H. DRIscOLL, M. J. Roaorr. 

